Most renewal notices get the same treatment: a quick look at the new premium, a sigh or a shrug, and the envelope goes in a drawer. But your Florida homeowners insurance renewal notice can tell you much more than what you’ll pay for another year. Coverage limits, deductibles, policy forms and discounts can also change from one policy year to the next, and those changes are easy to miss if you only look at the price.
Florida law generally requires residential property insurers to provide at least 45 days’ advance written notice of the renewal premium. That gives you time to compare the new policy information with last year’s coverage and ask questions before the renewal takes effect.
Start with two documents, side by side
Your renewal package usually includes a new declarations page, the summary page that lists your coverages, limits, deductibles, endorsements and premium. Find last year’s declarations page and put the two next to each other. You are not reading the whole policy yet. You are looking for anything that is different.
| Line to compare | What a change could mean |
|---|---|
| Dwelling (Coverage A) | An automatic increase may reflect higher rebuilding costs. It can also raise a percentage-based deductible. |
| Other structures, personal property, loss of use | These limits are often set as a percentage of the dwelling limit, so they may move with it. |
| Hurricane deductible | Check the dollar amount, not just the percentage. |
| All other perils deductible | A higher deductible can lower premium but increases what you pay on a claim. |
| Forms and endorsements list | A new or removed form, or a new edition date, can mean the policy wording changed. |
| Discounts and credits | A credit that disappeared may explain part of a premium increase. |
When the dwelling limit goes up, the hurricane deductible can too
Many policies include an inflation guard feature that raises the dwelling limit at renewal to keep pace with construction costs. That can be helpful. It also has a side effect that surprises people: if your hurricane deductible is a percentage of the dwelling limit, the dollar amount of that deductible rises along with it.
For example, a 2% hurricane deductible on a $400,000 dwelling limit is $8,000. If the limit renews at $420,000, the same 2% becomes $8,400. Florida requires insurers to show the hurricane deductible as a dollar amount on the policy, so you do not have to do the math yourself. You just have to look for it.
Florida law establishes several hurricane deductible options and requirements, although the options available can vary based on the home’s insured value and other circumstances. The hurricane deductible applies on a calendar-year basis, not per storm, according to the Florida Department of Financial Services. If the number on your renewal is higher than you expected, that is a conversation to have before the policy renews, not after a storm. Our homeowners renewal checklist covers how hurricane deductibles work in more detail.
Read the forms list, not just the numbers
Near the bottom of most declarations pages is a list of form and endorsement numbers, often with edition dates. It looks like fine print, and it is easy to skip. It is also where coverage changes tend to show up.
If a form appears that was not on last year’s policy, or an existing form has a newer edition date, ask what it changes. Some Florida policies include endorsements that affect how certain losses are paid, such as a payment schedule for roof surfaces or a limit on certain water-damage claims. Whether any of these apply to you depends on your insurer and your specific policy, which is exactly why a new form deserves a question.
Check whether your discounts carried over
Wind mitigation credits can make a real difference in a Florida homeowners premium. They are based on a wind mitigation inspection documented on the state’s Uniform Mitigation Verification Inspection Form (OIR-B1-1802). According to the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation, that form is valid for up to five years, as long as no material changes are made to the structure and no inaccuracies are found. A revised version of the form took effect April 1, 2026.
If your last inspection is approaching five years old, or you have since replaced the roof, added impact-rated windows or installed shutters, an updated inspection may be worth discussing. Florida law also requires residential property insurers to describe the hurricane mitigation discounts they offer on their websites, so you can see what your carrier recognizes. Other credits listed on your declarations page, such as for protective devices or bundled policies, are worth confirming too.
If the letter is a nonrenewal instead
Sometimes the notice says the insurer will not renew the policy at all. For residential property insurance in Florida, the insurer generally must give at least 120 days’ written notice before a nonrenewal takes effect, with limited exceptions such as nonpayment of premium (Section 627.4133, Florida Statutes). That lead time is meant to give you room to find replacement coverage without a gap. The most useful thing you can do is start early and have your current policy details ready.
Questions worth asking before your renewal date
- What caused the premium change this year?
- Did any limit, deductible or policy form change, and what does the change mean for me?
- Are all of my discounts and mitigation credits still applied?
- Is my dwelling limit based on a current estimate of what it would cost to rebuild?
- Does my flood coverage, if I have it, renew on a different date? Standard homeowners policies generally do not cover flood, so flood is usually a separate policy.
Get a second set of eyes on your renewal
Comparing two declarations pages doesn’t take long once you know where to look. Understanding what a change means for your home and your budget can take longer. If something on your renewal notice doesn’t make sense, contact the EZ Assurance team before your renewal date. We can help you review the changes, understand the questions worth asking and explore available coverage options based on your needs. You can also learn more about our personal insurance options.
Coverage availability, eligibility, terms, conditions, exclusions, deductibles, and premiums vary by insurer and individual risk. This article is provided for general informational purposes and does not modify, replace, or constitute the terms of any insurance policy. Please refer to the applicable policy and carrier documentation for actual coverage. Florida statutory and regulatory references are current as of September 2026.